Navigation and Validation

About 14 years ago I was faced with a difficult decision.  There was a new baby in the house and a career on hold waiting for my return.  It's a decision many a mom has to make and it's not an easy one for any of us.  It would help if there was a "right" answer to this question, but there just isn't.  It's different for every mom and every family, and even changes with time and circumstances.  Over the years of staying home I have waffled between loving it and hating it, looking for a job and enjoying my time as home room mom.  My heart knows being home with them is the right decision; sometimes my head gets a little confused on the matter. ;)

On one of our recent trips to a baseball game (have I mentioned that I watch a lot of little league baseball? ;) the little one is chattering away in the back seat.   After a few minutes, he stops mid sentence and asks where we are going.  I'm thinking that should be fairly obvious since he is in his uniform and I have stated at least 15 times that "we need to leave for your game now!"  Being the ever observant one he noticed I was taking a different route to the baseball park from the previous day.  "Yes I am little one, yesterday we were driving during rush hour, so I chose a route that helped us avoid some traffic.  Today is Saturday so this way is actually faster."  He pondered on that for a few minutes and then said, "Seems like most people are driving home from work during the week around dinner time, and then stay home on Saturday.  I wonder if dad could choose if he would work Saturday instead of during the week.  I think he likes having Saturday off to go to baseball games.  Plus he knows that during the week you're home to navigate us."  Then we were both quiet for while, I was pondering the "navigate"statement, and he was probably trying to remember if he had underwear on.  Just kidding, I'm the only one that gives a second thought to the underwear issue, he was probably trying remember if there was a new Sponge Bob coming on later.  I finally had to ask, "What do you mean by navigate?"  He thought for a second and said, "Well, you're always around to take care of us and get us snacks and stuff.  Plus you drive us to practice and games and stuff when dad is at work...you navigate us.  Is that the wrong word there, maybe there's another word for what you do."  No, I like navigate.  He just put my heart two points up on my head in the stay home or work race.  Tomorrow, there will be a big hairy fight between the three of them and my head will catch back up. ;)

Last night the middle had a game (have I mentioned that I watch a lot of little league baseball?  Oh, yes I have mentioned that. ;)  The big one and a friend were doing their usual "we are 14 and too cool to be here" act and decided to wander over to the other side of the park where there was a "flash mob" being staged.  There is a local group trying to get Ellen DeGeneres to come dance with the Thunder Girls at an upcoming playoff game against the Mavericks.   In less than 5 minutes I received this picture from the big kid via text message.

Suddenly these two 14 year old boys are a little more interested in getting Ellen to town. ;)  Nice work boys.  I bet daddy-o is wishing he was "navigating" with the big one about now. :)

The wine of the day is called Little Black Dress merlot.  No games tonight (woot woot) so I think I'll have 2 glasses and then be in the front yard doing a dance similar to Elaine Bennett's from Seinfeld in hopes that it will conjure up some rain clouds!  With a little luck and a little rain, I'll get to don a little black dress of my own and go out on a date tomorrow night! :)  Sometimes a girl needs to be more than just the navigator and #1 fan. ;)

Happy Thursday!